Mattress.



No. 857,078. PATBNTED JUNE 18, 1907.- E. D. H. LAMBOTTE.

MATTRESS.

-APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 19, 1906.

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PATENTED JUNE 18, 1907.

E. D. H. LAMBOTTE.

MATTRESS.

APPLICATION nun nov, 19. 190a.

2 SHEETBSHEET 2.

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MATTRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1907.

Application filed November 19,1906. Serial No. 344,143.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIE DIEUDONNE HENRI LAMBOTTE, a subject of the Kingof the Belgians, and resident of Brussels, Belgium, have invented acertain new or Im proved Mattress, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention relates to a new or improved mattress, and has forits object providing a supporting surface which is elastie in atransverse direction only.

In the mattresses hitherto known the depression of the supportingsurface under weight of the occupant is caused by the surface stretchingin all directions so that the said surface forms, notably in alongitudinal direction, a general curve which bridges the hollows of thebody instead of penetrating into them and molding itself exactly to thecontour of the body so as to increase the surface contact to themaximum. The result of this is that the distribution of the weight ofthe body is not uniform. Some parts are not supported while otherssupport an excess weight, having to bear the weight of the parts notdirectly supported. The compression of the flesh thus attains at thepoints of contact a degree notably higher than the mathematical mean.This drawback is so well-known that the use of a special mattress isnecessary to correct it and obtain a more equal division of thepressure, whereas in the system forming the object of the present invention the distribution of the weight is as perfect as when an airmattress is used.

In order to obtain the desired result the mattress is formed of numerousnarrow transverse strips independent of each other and of a flexiblenature elastically sustained by a spring at each of their ends.

The accompanying drawing, given by way of example, shows aconstructional form of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an iron bedstead with a springmattress. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the attachment of oneof the strips with supporting springs. Fig. 3 is a perspective view ofone of the supporting springs. Fig. 4 is a view in side clevation of thebed and mattress showing the depression of the bearing surface under theweight of a person, and the perfect adaptation of the said surface toall the curves of the body. Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 4 showingthe depression of the bearing surface in spring mattresses as at presentconstructed.

Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters ofreference.

In the construction shown on the drawings the mattress comprises twolongitudinal L-iron bars 1, 2 to which are fixed the ends of thetransverse strips 3, 3, 3 by means of screws, rivets, bolts, or the like4. Each transverse strip is sustained at each of its ends by means ofthe spring 5 formed by a flexible strip inwardly bent. These springs,which are held by the screws, rivets, bolts, or the like 4 and by thestrips and rivets 9, in sure each of the girths having an independentelasticity from which there results a surface that is generallyconvexed, elastic in the transverse direction only, and adaptable to theshape or contour of the body. Under the weight of a person thissupporting surface, see Fig. 4, is only depressed in a transversedirection adapting itself exactly to the body to be supported withoutcausing any harmful compression thereof. As the pressure is evenlydistributed there is no necessity for a second or covering mattress orits equivalent; a simple covering of the strips with a layer of feltbeing quite sufficient. A bedstead with such a mattress has specialhygienic and economic qualities. To prevent the strips from overlappingeach other a thin ribbon 6 (see Figs. 1 & 2) 0f hide, metal, or othersuitable material may be threaded between them.

Having now particularly described my said invention, what I claim anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A mattress comprising in combination, a supporting frame composed ofangle irons arranged to bring the webs thereof in vertical planes, aplurality of strips of thin flexible non-resilient metal transverselyarranged with respect to the longitudinal axis of the mattress anddisposed in parallel relation to each other, means for securing the endsof said strips to said angle irons in a manner to cause the bodyportions of the strips to bow upwardly and bridge the space between saidangle irons, and leaf springs fitting against the inner faces of theends of said strips and extending u )wardly beneath the same, said leafsprings eing rigidly secured to said angle irons near the ends of saidstrips and rigidly secured to said strips above the angle irons.

2. A mattress comprising in combination, supporting members, a pluralityof strips of thin flexible nonresilient metal transversely arranged Withrespect to the longitudinal axis of the mattress and disposed inparallel relation to each other, means for securing the ends of saidstrips to said supporting members, leaf springs for supporting eachstrip, means rigidly securing said springs to said supporting members,and means rigidly securing said springs to said strips.

3. A mattress comprising in combination, stationary supporting members,a plurality of strips of thin flexible non-resilient metal transverselyarranged with respect to the longitudinal axis of the mattress anddisposed in parallel relation to each other, means for rigidly securingsaid strips to said supporting members, and yieldingly acting means forsupporting said strips, said yieldingly acting means being secured tosaid strips to maintain the parts in alinement.

4. A mattress comprising in combination, supporting members, a pluralityof strips of thin flexible non-resilient metal transversely arrangedWith respect to the longitudinal axis of the mattress and disposed inparallel relation to each other, means for securing said strips to saidsupporting members, and

other, individual springs for supporting said strips, and means formaintaining said springs in alinement or supporting relation to saidstrips.

6. A mattress comprising in combination, supporting members, a pluralityof thin metal strips transversely arranged with respect tothe'longitudinal axis of the mattress and disposed in parallel relationto each other, means for securing said strips to said supportingmembers, and individual yielding y acting means for supporting saidstrips, said yielding means being secured to said strips and to saidmembers to maintain said individual means in alinement With said strips.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twoWitnesses.

ELIE DIEUDONNE HENRI LAMBOTTE.

Witnesses O. VAN NELsEN, GREGORY PHELAN.

